The 7-day case rate for South Kesteven has perked back up again.

The fluctuating numbers come as the country also continues to report much reduced death numbers and fewer cases, despite a vast increase in testing.

In the week to today, South Kesteven recorded 122 cases, up from 114 in the week to yesterday.

This gives a rate of 85.7 cases per 100,000, which has compared with the England average of 55.7, which has consistently declined.

Two weeks ago, the district has a 7-day rate of 56.2 based on 80 cases recorded over 7 days.

With 23 cases recorded today, South Kesteven now reports 7186 cases in total, about one for every 20 residents.

Again, no deaths were recorded today, with the last being recorded last Wednesday.

The total of 264 is equivalent to one for every 600 residents, which is better than the England average of one for every 500 residents.

Overall, there have been 178 new coronavirus cases and seven COVID-related deaths in Greater Lincolnshire on Wednesday — compared to 173 cases and seven deaths last Wednesday.

The government's COVID-19 dashboard recorded 106 new cases in Lincolnshire, 46 in North Lincolnshire and 26 in North East Lincolnshire.

On Wednesday, four deaths were registered in Lincolnshire, two in North Lincolnshire and one in North East Lincolnshire. These figures include deaths both in and out of hospitals, as well as residents in hospitals outside the county.

NHS England reported two new local hospital deaths at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust and one at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust hospitals.

On Wednesday, national cases increased by 5,605 to 4,312,908, while deaths rose by 98 to 126,382.

In local news, landmarks in Lincoln were illuminated yellow on Tuesday, March 23, reflecting on what has been a year since the UK went into coronavirus lockdown for the first time.

The event was organised by end-of-life charity Marie Curie, allowing for people to reflect on the last year and the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lincoln Cathedral sported the yellow colours of the charity on Tuesday night, which is the anniversary of Boris Johnson's announcement that the country would be going into lockdown.

North East Lincolnshire health officials say they're now in "control of a number of outbreaks" across the region and no significant outbreaks have been reported in the last 10 days.

This comes as the authority has seen a decrease in its infection rates since March 17, however, still remains in the top 30 highest rates nationally, as well as being ranked fourth in Greater Lincolnshire.

Greater Lincolnshire has seen a decrease in its infection rate since Monday, mirroring the fall in England's average also.

North Lincolnshire and West Lindsey have seen large spikes in their rates and South Kesteven has seen a slight increase compared to Monday's data.

Six of the nine Greater Lincolnshire districts have lower infection rates than their Monday figures.

In national news, the European Commission is to call for tougher controls on COVID vaccine exports after it accused UK-Swedish firm AstraZeneca of failing to honour its contract to supply EU countries.

The proposals, to go before EU leaders on Thursday, stop short of a ban but could enflame tensions with the UK.

Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire on Wednesday, March 24

8,806 in North Lincolnshire (up 46)

302 from North Lincolnshire (up two)

41 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)

447 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (up one)

4,312,908 UK cases, 126,382 deaths